NGT raps UKPCB for sewage discharge in Ganga and its tributaries

DEHRADUN, Uttarakhand: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has come down heavily on the Uttarakhand Pollution Control Board (UKPCB) for not preventing the discharge of untreated sewage waste into the River Ganga and its tributaries.

The environmental court has been hearing the matter of river pollution in Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal. In line with this, the tribunal has asked for specific information about the pollution from districts located in the river and its tributaries’ catchment areas.

NGT’s bench consisting of Justice Sudhir Agarwal and A Senthil Vel, an expert, observed that the untreated sewage was being discharged into the sacred river. The court noted, ”An estimated sewage generation in all 13 districts (of Uttarakhand) is estimated to be 700 million litres per day (MLD) and even 50 per cent is not properly treated. The laying of sewers and connectivity of households is an unresolved issue and the influx of tourists and pilgrims during the season adds to sewage generation.”

It added further that the installation and establishment of Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) is not being done wholeheartedly.

In its order, the Tribunal has directed the Uttarakhand Pollution Control Board to initiate criminal proceedings against all responsible officers and department heads for their inaction to prevent sewage discharge into the pristine river. The court order read, ”The UKPCB shall also recover Environmental Compensation (EC) for the past violation and will compute and impose environmental compensation for future violations … It shall submit a compliance report within two months.”